Meet the Graduates
The Health Resources and Services Administration predicts that by the year 2025, there will be a national deficit of 23,640 primary care physicians. Michigan will have a primary care provider shortage of 960. Amidst this shortage projection, there is an opportunity for advanced practice nurses to help meet the demand for primary care services. The student HRSA grant recipients are from rural or underserved areas and are employed as nurses by our practice partners. As part of the Kirkhof College of Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice program, the HRSA grant-funded students complete clinical experiences in sites across the state of Michigan located in primary care and/or mental health professional shortage areas. Upon graduation, these Nurse Practitioners will deliver patient care to rural and underserved populations throughout Michigan to help meet the demand for primary care services.
Keith Abraham
Keith is from Muskegon, Michigan, where he works as a nurse with Mercy Health Muskegon. He is interested in working with older adults in rural communities. His favorite class in the DNP program was Pathophysiology. Keith is in the 2022 DNP cohort in the adult/older adult track.
Ashley Alcala
Ashley is a Family Nurse Practitioner and hopes to make a meaningful difference by expanding access to compassionate, prevention-focused care, especially for individuals and families who face the same barriers she grew up with. She hopes to meet patients where they are, provide clear education, and help patients understand their health before it becomes a crisis. Becoming a Nurse Practitioner gives Ashley the chance to stand on the front line of prevention, helping patients stay healthy and informed. "By combining advanced clinical training with a deep understanding of the challenges low income families face, I hope to break cycles of delayed care and help my community move toward healthier, more informed lives."
Ashley Barney
Ashley is a nurse with McLaren Macomb located on the east side of Michigan. She is passionate about working with patients who have diabetes mellitus. Ashley is in the 2023 DNP cohort in the adult/older adult track. Her favorite class in her undergraduate studies was pathophysiology.
Jason Barney
Jason is a nurse at the McLaren Macomb hospital located on the east side of Michigan. He is passionate about working with underprivileged populations. Jason is in the 2023 DNP cohort in the adult/older adult track. He is “very excited for this opportunity and to be a part of GVSU.”
Erika Bell
TBD
Marstie Bunting
Marstie is from the lakeshore region where she works as a nurse for Mercy Health Partners. She is interested in working with geriatric populations in her rural community. Her favorite class thus far has been Clinical Pathophysiology. Marstie is in the 2022 DNP cohort in the adult/older adult track.
Emina Celovic
Emina completed the Adult/Older Adult DNP track because she has always wanted to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others through compassionate, evidence-based care. Growing up in a Bosnian immigrant family, Emina witnessed firsthand the sacrifice her parents made after escaping war and coming to the United States with very little, all in hopes of creating a better future for her and her brother. "Becoming a nurse allows me to combine my passion for patient care, leadership, and advocacy while honoring the sacrifices my family made to provide me with these opportunities."
Kelsey Crampton
Kelsey hails from Port Huron, Michigan, where she works as a nurse for the McLaren Port Huron Hospital. She is passionate about working with rural older adults. Her favorite class thus far has been Health Issues in Vulnerable Populations. Kelsey is in the 2022 DNP Cohort in the adult/older adult track.
Lorilee Gute
TBD
Tiffany Hornbeck
Tiffany is from Petoskey, Michigan, where she works as a nurse for McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital. While she is passionate about serving people from “all walks of life,” she specifically has a passion for people suffering from mental illness. Her favorite classes in the DNP program are Pharmacology and Pathophysiology. Tiffany is in the 2022 DNP cohort in the adult/older adult track.
Sarah Hunger
Sarah is a nurse from the McLaren Macomb region. She is interested in working with veterans, as her dad is a veteran himself. Sarah is in the 2023 DNP cohort in the adult/older adult track.
Katina Kuerth
Katina is from the lakeshore region of Michigan, where she works as a nurse for Mercy Health. Katina is interested in providing care for low-income populations and/or veterans. She enjoys courses in nursing theory. Katina is in the 2023 DNP cohort in the adult/older adult track.
Heath Lamb
TBD
Samantha Larson
Samantha hails from Muskegon, Michigan, where she works as a nurse for Mercy Health. She is passionate about providing care for low-income populations and/or those without health insurance. Her favorite classes in her undergraduate studies were Histology, Microbiology, and Physiology. Samantha is in the 2023 DNP cohort in the adult/older adult track.
Ashley Lewis
TBD
Heather Lewis
TBD
Lindsay Marlatt
Lindsay is a nurse for McLaren Port Huron in a cardiac observation unit and the emergency department. She is interested in working with all underserved populations. She is currently in the 2023 DNP cohort in the adult/older adult track.
Shawn McNally
Shawn hails from Bay City, Michigan, where he works as a nurse for McLaren Bay Region. He is interested in working with underserved populations who struggle with cardiac complications. Shawn is in the 2023 DNP cohort with a focus in the adult/older adult track.
Caleb Migda
Caleb works for McLaren Northern Michigan in the Petoskey region. He enjoys studying pathophysiology. Caleb is in the 2023 DNP cohort in the adult/older adult track.
Cory Mills
Cory is a nurse with McLaren Northern Michigan in Petoskey. He is interested in working with adults in rural areas and is particularly interested in heart disease and heart failure. His favorite class in the DNP program was clinical pathophysiology. Cory is in the 2022 DNP cohort in the adult/older adult track. He is “very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the GVSU KCON community and to learn and grow with my colleagues in this program.”
Autumn Monette
Autumn hails from Muskegon, Michigan, where she works as a nurse for Mercy Health. She is passionate about providing care for rural and underserved populations. Her favorite class in her undergraduate studies was Health Care System, Policy, and Politics. Autumn is in the 2023 DNP cohort in the adult/older adult track. She “would also like to thank my family and friends for their unwavering love and support in this academic endeavor.”
Katie Monicatti
Katie is a Family Nurse Practitioner who is passionate about integrative and holistic background, with a strong focus on identifying and addressing the root causes of illness rather than only treating symptoms. Katie is especially interested in community wellness, building relationships with patients, and providing comprehensive, patient-centered care. "I believe in taking a proactive approach to healthcare by optimizing overall wellness, lifestyle, nutrition, and preventive care before patients reach the point of chronic disease management."
Lauren Myers
Lauren works for McLaren Northern Michigan. She is interested in working with oncology patients. Her favorite class so far is evidence-based practice in nursing. Lauren is in the 2022 DNP cohort with a focus in the adult/older adult track.
Erin Russell
Erin is a nurse for McLaren Oakland. She is interested in working with underserved obese and morbidly obese patients. Her favorite class so far is Clinical Pathophysiology. Erin is in the 2023 DNP cohort with a focus in the adult/older adult track.
Sarah Sproull
TBD
Alec Tuchowski
Alec hails from Petoskey, Michigan, where he works as an in-patient nurse for McLaren Northern Michigan on the neurology and stroke unit; he is passionate about continuing his work with neurology and stroke patients. He enjoys classes that focus on advanced assessments. Alec is in the 2022 DNP cohort in the adult/older adult track.
Jessie Vandonkelaar
Jessie is a nurse interested in working with the mentally ill population and those that come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Her favorite class so far is Pathophysiology. Jessie is in the 2023 DNP cohort with a focus in the adult/older adult track. She is “seeking to use my experience and education to help others out of their own disadvantaged backgrounds and transform the way we approach care by providing total person-centered care in the way I practice.”
Kaylie Waters
Kaylie hails from Muskegon, where she works as a nurse for Mercy Health. She is interested in working with Children and is in the 2023 DNP cohort in the child/adolescent track. Her favorite class in the DNP program was pathophysiology. She is “thankful for this opportunity and is excited to offer care for the pediatric population in an underserved community.”